Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mobile, AL
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories
Mobile
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($158,400 vs $349,500)
Rent averages $239/mo less ($985 vs $1,224)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $19,016/yr
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Salem, OR
Pros
Households earn $19,016 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Mobile
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Mobile
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Mobile
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$191k less
$158,400 vs $349,500
Mobile
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Median Income
$19,016
$67,540 vs $48,524/yr
Salem
Violent Crime
29% lower
532.2 vs 752.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mobile, AL | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,400 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $985 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,524 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.2% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mobile County | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.5" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,316 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.6% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mobile leads 13 of 23 categories. Mobile wins 13 and Salem wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Mobile to Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,400 vs $349,500 median home), income ($48,524 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mobile, AL and Salem, OR are about 2,124 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.